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The NBA has four teams at the top of the heap who are worth quite a lot of money. These four teams are worth around four billion dollars alone, and they show the trend for rising value of teams in the NBA. The money spent to purchase NBA teams in the recent past has been out of control, but the league has more value than it ever did. TV money, overseas revenue and marketing of players makes these teams among the most valuable in sports. This article tells a tales of the Knicks, Celtics, Lakers and Bulls.

#1: The TV Markets

These teams are all in the top five TV markets in the country, and they derive quite a lot of their money from TV contracts. They are making money for the right to broadcast their games, and the Knicks are part of their own network at MSG. They have ensures they have money to spend, and the Lakers are not far behind. Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and New York have enough money to go around in TV deals.

#2: The Knicks

The Knicks are valuable because they have have Madison Square Garden, they are in New York and they have a large fan base. There is no other reason for the team to be so valuable as they are terrible at the moment. Fans are railing against the team because of their bad play, but there is money to spend on bad contracts and worse hirings. The team has a long road to recovery, and it may not start today.

#3: The Bulls

The Bulls derive most of their value from the fact that Michael Jordan played for them. They have parlayed his mere existence into quite a lot of money, and the atmosphere in the United Center has not changed since Jordan retired. The team has not won a title since, but they have their fans ready to believe every year that this will be their year.

#4: The Celtics

The Celtics have the most history and tradition in the NBA. They have won the most titles, and they are located in the heart of the city. Players come to Boston hoping to reignite the passion of the city, and fans are serious in every way. They will show up to games, they will watch on TV. The Celtics have value tied up in a rabid fan family that would do anything to see them succeed, and they see their dedication returned in dollar signs every year.

#5: The Lakers And Showtime

The Lakers sit in Inglewood where they play in the Staples Center which is theirs alone. They allow the Clippers to use it, but it is their building. They were purchased for almost nothing by Dr. Buss, and they were turned into the most-popular team in the league. The Lakers are frequented by everyone from Jack Nicholson to Leonardo DiCaprio, and the team will continue to pile on new championships as they go from era to era with each new signing. They are without Kobe Bryant, but they are ready to revive themselves with young talent.

There are four valuable teams on this list who all derive their funds from TV contracts and their general popularity. The teams would not be popular if they did not win, and there is a winning tradition at the heart of each one. The Knicks must learn to win again, but the Bulls, Celtics and Lakers know what winning feels like. They simply rake in the cash as their ratings go up every year on the road to the NBA Finals.